Senior Blog: Zack Danner

Today is the last full day of school for the Class of 2018. Many of us have mixed emotions as we have our yearbooks signed, turn in our final high school essays, and complete our final presentations and tests at BHS. As a class we celebrate our accomplishments, reflect on what our legacy at BHS will be, and throw papers in the air to celebrate the completion of what for many of us has been the greatest four years of our lives. Today, I reflect on all the great moments of the past four years.

My top three favorite moments at BHS are taking home the 5th-place trophy at State last year with the boys’ basketball team. It was an amazing run to win the Metro League title and then to go beat Westview for the fourth time in the same season before taking home the 5th place trophy.

Another of my favorite memories was traveling to New York City with the Social Media Team. Putting the stuff you learn in the classroom into real world perspective is a great experience and I had a lot of fun learning outside of the classroom environment.

Senior Prom is a night to remember. For most it is a one time experience, so enjoy it. For me this was a senior memory for the books. You can ask a girl and go with them or you can go with friends, but you only get one Senior Prom, so enjoy it. Enjoy being with your high school friends for one last school dance.

I’ll conclude this blog with a piece of advice for every Beaverton student; current or incoming. Enjoy the time you have at Beaverton. Being a Beaver is a special thing, and the time goes by so fast. Join a club or a team and find a way to be involved. Go to dances because you can. Enjoy this time while it lasts, cause believe it or not, it doesn’t last long.

Senior Top 5: Oliver Brown

1-Prom: I thought I would get the cliché answer out of the way first. If you have read any other of these senior blogs I am sure you have heard the evolution of Prom night: from picking up your date and exchanging boutonniere and corsages, to the endless number of pictures taken at Anna Ricci’s, dinner and then the dance. The sum of these events is fun. But the reason Prom is in my top 5 is because when I took a minute to stand still in all the commotion, I saw the people I had grown up with for the past 4, 7 or 13 years differently than I had seen them before. What did I see that was so revolutionary….? Well turns out, we are getting old. At Anna’s, it was seeing all of us dressed in a suit and tie. A suit makes 18-year old’s look surprisingly old. At dinner, it was humorously watching my friends attempted to use a knife and fork proficiently in front of their dates. And then when it came time to dance, it was seeing all my buddies find their dates, take them by the hand and dance. Slow dancing at prom may not seem crazy to you all but watching Lucas Radostitz (and the rest of the guys) endure 3 minutes of slow dancing is similar to watching a baby takes its first step. Once they take those steps a new chapter opens in a parent’s life, witnessing Lucas slow dance marks a new chapter in my life.

2-Westview vs. Beaverton Football: I’m not going to beat around the bush about this one…. I don’t remember a whole lot from this game. You may ask “How is it one of your top memories at BHS if you don’t remember?”… Well, first let me give some back story and then I will get to the memorable part. Beaverton had a very good football team this year, so did Westview. At Beaverton, we have a quite focal student section at games, at Westview they also had a very focal student sectionl. Well, for those of you who don’t know the High School Football Excitement For Friday Nights Game algorithm it goes like this: Good Opponent + Strong Opposing Student Section = Very Rowdy Game. So yes, as a senior class we were extremely excited for the game against Westview. The game got off to a slow start. With Beaverton down by 4 points, time becoming scarce, and with the ball in Westviews possession we were all getting a tad bit nervous. Okay, enough with the back story. The reason it was so memorable was because my friend Mataio Talalemotu. Mataio and I have known each other since Kindergarten at Raleigh Park Elementary. I have grown up with him the last 13 years and have got to know the kid rather well. Turns out that not only is he a good friend but is also quite the football player. Losing by 4 or so and the clock winding down Mataio made a play I may never forget. As the Westview quarterback takes the snap and drops back to throw, Mataio made some sort of smart football read. To be honest, I don’t really understand what that was but in the end he intercepted the ball and took it the end zone to score and put our team on top to win the game. However, the result was not the most memorable part. Rather it was seeing one of my childhood friend’s hard work and dedication pay off and therefore being able to bring a stadium full of Beaverton community members a smile and good memory. Thanks for the memory, Mataio.

3-Westview vs Beaverton Basketball Chiles Center: The last two memories were long so I will keep this one sort… We made it to the Chiles Center for basketball. We played our arch rivals Westview the first game there. Close to 400 Beaverton students made the 40-minute commute to the game. We got the arena rocking. Boys went out there and won the game. We all went home with smiles on our faces. A PIECE OF ADVICE FROM ME TO YOU: Go to a Beaverton Basketball game. You will enjoy it.

4-Social Media Trips: I had the pleasure to attended two Social Media Team trips over the past four years. My first one was in the fall of my junior year. Myself and nine girls from Social Media Team flew to Chicago and enjoyed Social Media Week Chicago. This trip was truly eye opening as a junior. I networked with some of the top proffesionals in their field and grew an understanding for how to get there. A CEO I met, Jason Peterson, continues to be a mentor and role model of mine to this day. Secondly, I had to fortune of attending New York Social Media Week this last winter. Once again, I met and established connections with people I would never have thought possible. I continued to learn industry trends and where it may be when I enter the workplace in 2021. Social Media Team and these conferences have given me a path and direction I am excited to explore as a career.

5-The Vrodies: The Vrodies are my friends. The guys I have grown to call family here at BHS. I love my Vrodies with all my heart. These are the guys that I have made all my silly high school memories with. Those guys and all the people at BHS are the reason it is so special. If there wasn’t copy right in this world I would petition very hard to make BHS’ catchline, “The happiest place on earth” (besides pre-calc tests… those are not very happy).

Shout out Walt Disney, Mrs. Erwin and the Vrodies. Love you all and thank you for reading my horribly informal senior blog.

Senior Top 5: Anaya Sergeant

At Beaverton High School, I’ve learned so much about myself and who I want to be. Throughout these past four years I’ve met so many different types of people and learned so many new things, and I know I’ll always look back on my high school years fondly.

CHEERLEADING.

As a freshman, I remember trying out for the Cheerleading team and being so nervous my stomach was in knots. Learning the routines and getting better at stunts and tumbling was so rewarding, and competitions always made the team feel that all our hard work had paid off. Cheerleading was the first thing that got me involved in BHS and made me see how connected everyone is and how strongly we want each other to succeed.

SPORTING GAMES.

Whether it be football or basketball or baseball or soccer, I always love huddling on the bleachers with my classmates and watching athletes work their hardest. The way BHS students come together and show their love for our teams is unforgettable, and the players all appreciate the support.

SOCIAL MEDIA WEEK LA AND NYC.

Once I had gone through some marketing classes and learned how interested in business I am, I was eager to be a part of the Social Media Team. I had seen the class of seniors ahead of me on the team be enthusiastic and involved, and I admired how well they all worked together to make the content. Now that I am on the team and a group leader, I’ve made by far the best memories at business and marketing conferences in Los Angeles and New York City. We were able to listen to so many experienced speakers, and we also got to explore the cities. Every time I look back on photos from these trips, I can’t help missing them.

ACCEPTED TO COLLEGES.

As a senior, I know that all of these four years of high school have been preparing me for the “real world.” Like most people, I had no real idea of what I would do after I graduated and what my future would look like. However, now that I’ve grown and have gained more experiences I was able to apply to colleges that seemed like a good fit for me. I applied to Arizona State University, University of Oregon, and Portland State University. After being accepted to all three, (and having my mini celebrations in my head) I toured them all and decided that PSU was the home for me.

PROM.

This was the night that everyone looks forward to from such a young age, and it definitely did not disappoint. The planning and preparation was stressful, such as the dress, dinner reservations, the perfect location for pictures, and the plans for the night after. But all of the planning and frantics to try and set a plan led to a night I’ll never forget. Dancing the night away with the people I’m grateful to end high school with was irreplaceable.

Senior Top 5: Rianna Ayoub

Senioritis- a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.

Yeah, you could say we’ve all reached this point. As I write this, there are 35 days until my last day of school, and 38 days until graduation. I know everyone says “time goes by fast”, but I never believed it until it happened. It’s like I blinked and we’re all adults.

I could be sappy and act like I’m “so sad to leave”, but I’m actually really happy to move on with my life. So instead of telling you how scared I am to go on to college, here are 5 of the best memories I’ve had at THE Beaverton High School.

1. Football Games.

Who doesn’t love school spirit? Fans cheering until we lose our voices, fun themes to dress up to with friends, and most importantly, one amazing team. And we’re all there for one purpose- to support no matter what. I cheered varsity sophomore year which was fun and all, but I wanted to go to football and basketball games with friends. Let me tell you it was a good decision to quit, because watching football games was my favorite part about Friday nights in the fall. Win or lose, we would always sing the fight song with the team. Beaverton’s sense of community is really something else. Whether it be sports, clubs, or anything in between, we are always there for each other.

2. Diversity Assemblies

We’ve always had the best assemblies of all time; I will miss them a lot. But my favorite one in particular is the diversity assembly. This assembly shows who we truly are. We start out the beginning with students carrying flags, where people from specific countries carry theirs. (I carried the Lebanon flag this year). Afterwards, multiple performances are put on by students of all different races and cultures- from hispanic partner dancing, to polynesian hula dancing, to accordion playing, this assembly reveals our true colors and brings us together as one. It shows us that no matter what race or culture you are apart of, you are you, and you are special in your own way. And that is what makes us Beaverton High School.

3. Social Media Team/marketing

The social media team has been a fun, educational experience that has completely changed my outlook on school. When I joined digital marketing my junior year, I realized how many different job opportunities there are when it comes to marketing. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was older, but this class opened doors and made me want more. I continued with digital marketing this year to be on Social Media Team, which is where we create all of the school’s social media content. I also took marketing 2 and marketing management this year, which have taught me a lot about general marketing, advertising, and what it takes to run a business. Marketing classes have brought me a lot of impressive experiences such as going to New York for social media week, visiting different advertising agencies, going to the Nike Lab, and more. Not to mention I have met many amazing people and have learned a lot of incredible stories from getting to reach out and interview people for social media team. I am excited to continue my education and major in marketing at Portland State University next year, and if it weren’t for these marketing classes and Social Media Team, I would have no idea where I am headed in the future.

4. New York City- Social Media Week

As I said above, the students on social media team got the amazing opportunity of going to New York City this year. We went for 5 days to attend “Social Media Week”, which is a worldwide conference that curates and shares the best ideas, innovations and insights into how social media and technology are changing business, society and culture around the world. It was extremely fascinating to learn new ideas, because we were then able to talk as group with Mrs. Erwin when we got back to see how we could apply them to our school content. This was one of my favorite trips in my life so far, because not only did I learn more than I ever have in a week, but we did so many fun things! We had plenty of extra time to go off in groups and see the empire state building, go to central park, the 9/11 memorial, rockefeller center, and more. If you are ever offered an opportunity to go on a school trip, take it, because you will never get that same kind of experience out of a normal vacation.

5. Prom!!

Of course prom had to be on here, right? It’s prom! Homecoming and sadies are fun and all, but prom is definitely the icing on the cake. Long dresses, getting your hair and makeup done, months of talking about it, the assembly, the prom court. It’s almost overwhelming at one point. Don’t get me wrong though, it is the perfect dance to end high school. The date of our prom, April 22nd, happened to be the date of my best friend Kendall’s 18th birthday. All of her friends were either out of town, busy with sports, or at their prom, so I thought what would be more fun than if she joined me? Kendall spent her birthday at prom with me and it was so much fun. Girls- DON’T think you need a date to have a good time at prom. I promise you, if you’re with a fun group you will have a great night either way. Don’t get super fixated on if you’re getting asked or not, because in the end it’s what you make it.

Want advice? Have fun. Make friends, but not fake ones. Be yourself and don’t try so hard to fit in, because after 4 short years you won’t have to see most of these people again, unless you want to.

So make the best of it, and have fun at BHS! You’ve got this.

Junior Advice. Signed, an Almost-Senior.

By Jen Caplan, junior

Spring has arrived, time of standardized testing for juniors and college decisions for seniors. The end of the year seems so near and yet summer appears to be so far away. It’s hard to stay motivated and focused. In the next couple months, juniors will be dealing with the stress of SAT, ACT, AP testing, and so much more! Everyone always told me that my junior year was going to be hard but I never thought it was going to be this hard. I missed quite a bit of school last month from attending Social Media Week in New York and another conference in Dallas.

I have put so much on my plate for the year, and there isn’t nearly enough time during the day or the week to complete everything that needs to be accomplished! I have spent pretty much every weekend during the last couple months catching up on work.

With all this stress, it’s so amazing to have teachers who care about me and are able to support me through all of this. Beaver Lodge has come in handy many times this year. And when the stress of standardized testing, homework, my extra curricular activities and other commitment start to weigh on me, I also start thinking about how exciting it is to think that by this time I may have a pretty good idea of where I’m going to college!

I wish that when everyone told me that my junior year was going to be so hard, that they would have provided me with more specific advice. So, my advice to all you sophomores and even freshmen is that when junior year rolls around:

• Keep a planner.
• Don’t bite off more then you can chew.
• Take advantage of Beaver Lodge.
• Don’t get behind in your homework at school.
• Make sure to make time for the things that you love.

(School) Trip of a Lifetime

By Rianna Ayoub, senior

Everyone looks forward to something during their senior year. Whether it be Prom, Grad Night, or simply getting out of here. Well for me, the thing I looked forward to the most was the Digital Marketing trip to NYC for Social Media Week.

Social Media Week is a worldwide conference that curates and shares the best ideas, innovations, and insights into how social media and technology are changing business, society, and culture around the world. The people who went on this trip are our Social Media Team who make the content for BHS, so we could apply the ideas we learned to the content we make for our school. We heard from awesome speakers such as Megan Summers from Facebook, and even David Harbour, or “Officer Hopper” from Stranger Things!

Besides from the conferences, we had plenty of free time to explore the big apple. There were enough chaperones for us to split up and do our own thing, so I did many different things such as go to the Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial, Central Park, Chelsea Market, cool dessert shops, and more.

Going to NYC was such a different experience, for I have never traveled to the East Coast. I plan on going back as soon as I can. If you get a good school trip opportunity, take it. Hands down. You never know what you will learn, see, or how much fun you will have!

I Am Thankful for BHS.

By Anaya Sergeant, senior

LEARNING TRANSFORMS US. COMMUNITY CONNECTS US.

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite time of the year to spend with my family and my friends who have been there for me. At BHS, the love that is felt throughout the school is immense. As I’ve grown older and matured and became a senior, I’ve learned to appreciate this school and all the opportunities I’ve gotten due to this incredible high school.

My favorite experience I’ve been a part of is by far the Social Media Week conferences in Los Angeles that our BHS social media team went to. The time we spent there was filled with amazing memories I’ll never forget. We got to go to conferences led by successful businessmen and women, and they gave tips and tricks on how to operate in this digital driven world of business. Aside from the knowledge I was lucky enough to gain in LA, I also was able to grow closer to the other members of the team and adventure in the beautiful city. If it weren’t for Beaverton’s desire to help us grow and experience events like this, I never would have been on this amazing trip.

More than anything, I’m grateful I’ve been a part of a school that cares so deeply about it’s students and wants the best for everyone. The students and teachers here have made my high school experience above and beyond any expectations I could have had. This Thanksgiving, while feeling thankful and loving towards my family and friends, I’ll also feel incredibly blessed to be a part of BHS.

Senior Top 5: Tatjana Schroeder

By Tatjana Schroeder, BHS Class of 2016

Top 5 High School Moments

1. Softball

Softball was one of the most memorable moments in high school. I was fortunate enough to make varsity and start as a freshman. For the first 3 years, I started at 3rd base then this year, as a senior I moved to right field. Through softball I was able to build so many relationships with girls I had never met before creating a such a strong bond!

2. Prom Court

This year, I was the Princess of Verbosity on the Prom Court. That means, I’m loud, outgoing, and say what is on my mind. Honestly, being on Prom Court was one of the best experiences! It was so fun being able to dress up daily with my friends and do different activities at lunch. At the end of the week, it was the best walking in the assembly with Faris faking a kiss with me!

3. Prom

PROM! OMG, best night ever! Prom was so great; it was so fun being with my whole class. We started the night with all going to Juliette’s house for pictures with about 100 kids all together. After pictures, I went to dinner with 2 other couples and then went to the dance. The dance was the greatest thing ever! We all just hella bonded and danced the whole night. It was the best night by far!!

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4. Chicago

During this year, I was also able to go to Chicago with other kids in my Digital Marketing class. It was a great experience to be at Social Media Week and learn the importance of social media. While in Chicago, it was so fun to bond with the other girls. By the end of the week, Kendall hated Emma and I for always being so loud and “annoying”. Oops!

5. Football Games

Lastly, football games were the greatest things! Looking back, I don’t know what I would done if I hadn’t gone to every football game. During football games, everyone got so rowdy and crazy, making it an amazing memory! Football games were the highlight of the week during the Fall. Every week, my friends and I would brainstorm what we were going to wear for that game to match the theme, it was great! Football games – by far – were one of the best memories from high school.

Best Decision Ever.

By Karley Hecht, junior

LEARNING TRANSFORMS US.

The summer before my junior year, I was so nervous. There are no words to explain the thoughts that would take over my brain all day, every day. The thoughts would be on repeat and wouldn’t stop until I went to sleep that night. Not everyone goes through the same thing that I went through, that’s for sure. It happens every summer. Not knowing who you’re going to sit with at lunch, who you’re going to be partners with in class (when you don’t have your one friend in that class), and silly things like that.

One thing changed all of this for me. It turned my whole outlook on junior year and even high school to happiness and not pure dread.What changed it, is a 3-word title: Social Media Team. My sophomore year at Beaverton High School wasn’t the greatest, until I applied to join the Social Media Team. That decision turned everything around. I actually wanted to go to school and interact with people because I knew what was to come next year.

 

The Beaverton High School Social Media Team is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. What we do (with the help of our fabulous teacher Mrs.Robinson) is to develop and implement strategy and create content for the BHS Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter feeds – along with the podcast and blog – with beautiful faces, pictures, videos,  announcements, stories, and campaigns that highlight what is meaningful and relevant to BHS and its community.

One major event that I am so proud to be a part of is Social Media Week-Chicago. Mrs. Robinson took 10 students (including myself) to Social Media Week in Chicago. It was the best week of my life. I met so many new people, learned so many new things, and realized that high school is nothing compared to what the rest of my life could be.

Our community is so strong and youthful, that we strive, everyday, to make everyone feel at home and like they have meaning here at BHS. I am so thankful for the members on the Social Media Team and most importantly, Mrs.Robinson, for teaching me the ways of the team, how to step out of my comfort zone, how to interact with people I may not have interacted with before, and grow up into a young adult.

To this day (it hasn’t even been a year yet), I have my “acceptance letter” that Celia Boyer and Cole Johanson handed to me in the library hanging up in my room. It reminds me that every day, I can be proud of myself for stepping out and trying something new. My advice to everyone reading this is to try something new, and to challenge yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone. You never know what can happen!